Ok, I get it. Customer service is a big thing here. I can understand that. But these people get fucking pushy if you don't want them to do anything for you.
I've been in this hotel for a few days now. And, like I do at any hotel, I've left the "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door the entire time. The reason is simple... I don't want to be disturbed. This is my space, it's a private space, and when I enter this space I want to be left alone. Is the idea of personal space not applicable in this culture?
Every day since I arrived the phone in the hotel has rung. I don't know if it's been at the same time of day like clockwork, I don't really pay much attention to the clock. But it has been every day. It's the hotel calling, asking if I need them to take care of the room. I don't, and I indicated the first two times they called that I don't. And that, when I do, I'll remove the sign.
But they continue to call every day. So I stopped answering. Thus, they've escalated the situation. Today, while I was actually trying to sleep, someone was knocking at the door. At first I didn't really hear it because I was in one of those half-awake states where all sounds seem as though they're in some kind of echo chamber. But slowly I came to and realized that someone was knocking at the door. The door with the Do Not Disturb sign hanging on the handle.
It was some little man who works for the hotel, and some bellhop side-kick with him. He said that it's been three days and asked if I needed the room cleaned. No, I told him I don't currently need the room cleaned. Everything's fine. Again, he indicated that it's been three days. Yes, I know how much time has elapsed. I also know that there's a Do Not Disturb sign on the door, I'm clearly groggy and have just been woken up, the room behind me has the curtains drawn and is dark, and that the hotel staff is currently standing outside my door disturbing me.
Is the customer service compulsory? Am I required to be served at all times? I indicated to the man that I will change the sign when the room requires servicing. And that, until then, I'd prefer to, you know, not be disturbed. I was polite, or at least I think I was. My standards are different.
My standards aren't lower or higher, mind you. Simply different. What I'm beginning to conclude here is not that the Philippines has more of a focus on customer service than the US, but simply a different focus. They hold doors more, they smile and are polite more, but they're a shitload pushier as well. I'm reminded of the airplane ride over here where they were constantly bothering me to be served.
Do. Not. Disturb. I thought it was a clear concept. It doesn't mean to ring the phone every day and come knocking on the door. If this is being not disturbed, what do you people do when you want to disturb someone?
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